On March 15, 2005, Google software engineer Chikai Ohazama published Google X on the company's blog. Ohazama wrote: "I hope all of you enjoy it - especially Mac users, who I'm sure will appreciate its lineage."

Google X was a variant of Google's well-known search interface but with images instead of text links for the different choices (image search, Froogle, Google labs, and so on). A javascript rollover effect enlarged the images when the mouse passed over them, an effect not unlike the dock in Apple's OS X.

When Google X was launched, this little poem could be found at the bottom of the page: "Roses are red. Violets are blue. OS X rocks. Homage to you."

Although the project was pulled hours after it was launched, you can still see how it looked.

Google's firing of James Damore was legal, labor board says - CNET — CNET Google's firing of James Damore was legal, labor board says CNET Google didn't break the law when it fired James Damore over a memo that criticized the company's diversity policies and claimed tech's gender gap may be due to biological differences between men and women. That's the word this week from a lawyer with ... James Damore's labor complaint against Google was completely shut down The Verge Labor board says Google legally fired diversity memo writer Engadget Gender stereotypes are not a political opinion: US regulators affirm Google's firing of James Damore Quartz TechCrunch - New York Times - OregonLive.com - Bloomberg all 36 news articles »

Google flexed its muscles with new ad-blocking rules, and some smaller players are concerned about its power - CNBC — CNBC Google flexed its muscles with new ad-blocking rules, and some smaller players are concerned about its power CNBC Earlier this week, Google rolled out new filtering policies for its Chrome browser that will block all advertising on websites that serve particularly annoying ads, like autoplay videos with sound or full-page pop-ups. The idea behind this move is ... What Google's Chrome ad blocker means for users, advertisers Chicago Daily Herald Google begins blocking annoying ads on its browser Geo News, Pakistan all 35 news articles »

Google app beta adds built-in screenshot-editing tools - Engadget — Engadget Google app beta adds built-in screenshot-editing tools Engadget Google app is extremely close to rolling out a built-in screenshot-editing tool -- so close that you can now try it out as a beta tester on Android. If you join the app's beta program and download version 7.21, you'll find an option that says "Edit and ... and more »

Predictions about Google's predictive internet - Computerworld — Computerworld Predictions about Google's predictive internet Computerworld Google wants you to keep using Google . So to keep your interest, it's working hard to apply some of the world's most advanced technologies to making your online activities faster and easier. It's attacking from several angles. One of them is prediction ... and more »

Google conducts test to help 911 accurately locate callers - The Verge — The Verge Google conducts test to help 911 accurately locate callers The Verge Google has conducted a trial to test the efficiency of using its technology to help 911 operators more accurately figure out the location of cellphone callers. The test included tens of thousands of 911 calls over the span of two months in several ... 911 Wasn't Set Up With Cell Phones In Mind. Google Could Change that. Futurism Google is making it easier for 911 to find you in an emergency Engadget Google wants to make it easier for 911 operators to locate mobile callers BGR GSMArena.com - Wall Street Journal all 25 news articles »

Google Auto Trends report says we're all dog-obsessed dashcam buyers - CNET — CNET Google Auto Trends report says we're all dog-obsessed dashcam buyers CNET Cars are changing fast, as is the way that culture sees and uses them. Google wanted to better understand this, so it compiled search data from the US, Germany and Japan to see what was trending in the wheeled world. The results are a little surprising ... and more »

Google To Block 'Annoying' Online Ads That Fail To Make The Grade - NPR — NPR Google To Block 'Annoying' Online Ads That Fail To Make The Grade NPR Tired of annoying online ads? There could be some relief starting Thursday, if you're one of the vast majority of people who use Google Chrome as your default browser. Google is launching a built-in blocker in Chrome that is designed to filter out ads ... Google's New Ad Blocker Changed the Web Before It Even Switched On WIRED Chrome adblockalypse will 'accelerate Google -Facebook duopoly' The Register Can we really trust Google as judge, jury and executioner of online ads? The Guardian Washington Post - Wall Street Journal - Quartz - The Keyword all 127 news articles »

Anger at Google image search 'peace deal' - BBC News — BBC News Anger at Google image search 'peace deal' BBC News Google has made it more difficult for people to save pictures from its image search product, as part of a "peace deal" with photo library Getty Images. In 2017, Getty Images complained to the European Commission, accusing Google of anti-competitive ... Google removes 'view image' button from search results to make pics harder to steal The Verge Google Killed its Popular 'View Image' Feature, and the Internet Isn't Having It TIME Internet rages after Google removes “view image” button, bowing to Getty Ars Technica Engadget - Daily Mail - BGR - Twitter all 136 news articles »

Google moderation 'a click farm' - The Times — The Times Google moderation 'a click farm' The Times Moderators who have worked for Google in Dublin say they were repeatedly instructed to label content as “family safe” even though they did not understand the language of the material. Former staff have claimed an operation run by Accenture in Dublin's ...